Combined washbench and step-ladder



(Mode1.)

, J. H. PPLIEGER. COMBINED WASHBENGH AND STEPLADDER.

No. 589,192. Patented Aug. 31,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFI E.

JOHN H. PFLIEGER, or JonNsrowN, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINEDYWASHBENCH AND STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 589,192, dated August 31, 1897.

' Application filed March 13, 1897. Serial No. 627,313. (Model-l ence being bad to the accompanying draw ings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification. This invention has relation to combined step-ladders and benches, and has for its ob-- ject simplicity, durability, andcheapness.

' The invention consists in swinging a stepladder between supports by means of links securedto one end of said ladder and to near the upper ends of said supports, said ladder being pivoted near its other end to the opposite supports by means of a bar or pintle, by which construction the step-ladder is also made to form a bench or table.

In the drawings the same letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View showingthe ladder in a folded position. i Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device when used for a step-ladder. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the device when used for a bench or table.

A is one pair of the uprights or supports, and carries the pintle o. B is the other pair of uprights, and carries thelinksD, which are pivoted to the uprights by pins E.

0 is the step-ladder portion, which is se cured to the uprights A by pintle c at one end,

, and the upright 13 by means of the links D at the other end. The two uprights or supports A and B are pivoted together at their upper ends by pivots or bolts (Z, and are held from spreading by latch or hook f, which is secured by eyebolts or staples a b to the supports, respectively.

When the ladder portion isto be used for a bench or table, the hook f is unfastened and the uprights spread out. The ladder then, which forms the bench, is supported at one end by the pintle c and by around 9 of the supports 13 at the other. lVhen the ladder portion C is raised from or lowered to its hori zontal position, in which it serves as a bench, it swings by means of links D, and by its swinging motion it opens or closes the sup ports or uprights, as the case may be.

It will be observed that the supports ,A B and the ladder C are of different widths, so that each works snugly within the other, and when folded lap each other, whereby very little space is occupied when not in use.

It will be seen that theladder portion is much longer than the supports. The object of this is that when an ordinary step-ladder would not be sufficiently long for the purpose of an ordinary ladder this device can be used for that purpose by leaning the long end up against the wall, the supports not interfering by reason of the extension. The uprights or supports are held transversely by the wellknown rounds, but in this instance round 9 is used for a support for the ladder portion when used for a bench and as a stay when used for a ladder.

The utility of the invention is apparent without further description, but it may be remarked that for housekeepers use the combined ladder and bench for washtubs or other purposes is unquestioned.

Itis'obvious that modifications may be made the parts without departing frbm the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not wish to be confined to the exact construction shown.

Having described my invention and the best means at present known for carrying the same into effect, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters 'Patent,1is

1. A step-ladder consisting of the supports A and B, the pivotedladderportion 0 having links D, and an extension beyond the ends of the supports, said links being adapted to swing and raise said extension, and bring the ladder portion and supports to a folded position, when they may be used for an ordinary ladder, substantially as described.

2. A step-ladder comprising the supports A, and B, the ladder port-ion 0, one end being pivoted at c, the other being adapted to swing by means of links 1), and by its swinging motion up or down, the supports are made to open or close, substantially as set; forth.

3. The combination in a step-ladder, of the 5 supports A, and B, the ladder portion (3, pivoted as described, the links D, and round g, all adapted to operate together for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my own I affix' my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN 11'. PFLIEGER.

Witn esses:

JOHN YARNELL, OWEN DARBY. 

